India Launches 2nd Home-built P28 Anti-Submarine Corvette

Posted On
Thursday, 27 October 2011 14:37

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World
Navy Force News - India

India
Launches 2nd Home-built P28 Anti-Submarine Corvette

The
Indian Navy's modernization quest under Project-28, to stealthily hunt
and destroy lurking enemy submarines, was further bolstered today with
the launch of the second indigenous anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette
Kadmatt - named after an island in the Lakshwadeep archipelago of India
-- built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), at Kolkata.

Conforming to the centuries-old maritime tradition of ship launches
by a lady, Mamatha M, launched Kadmatt from the GRSE main yard in the
presence of her husband, Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju,
Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A) of the
Indian Navy Vice Admiral N.N. Kumar and GRSE Chairman and Managing Director
(CMD) Rear Admiral K.C. Sekhar.

Launch
of Indian Navy ASW Corvette INS Kadmatt
(picture: DPR Defence)

GRSE is slated to launch
four P28 corvettes for the Indian Navy each costing nearly Rs 373-million.
Kamorta, the first in the series was launched on April 19 last year. Kamorta,
after fitments is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy in June
2012 and Kadmatt in March 2013. The keel of the third ASW corvette meanwhile
was laid in August 2010. The remaining two P28 corvettes scheduled to
float out next from GRSE yards are Kiltan and Kavaratti.

The Kamorta-class corvettes, with more than 80 percent
indigenous content, are capable of fighting in a NBC (nuclear, biological
and chemical) environment. The 109 metres long, 12.8 metres wide ship
with an approximate displacement capacity of 3,000-tons can achieve
a maximum speed of 25 knots. The ship powered by four 3888 KW diesel
engines at 1,050 rpm has an endurance to cover nearly 3,450 nautical
miles at 18 knots and can carry a helicopter on board. Each ship can
accommodate 17 officers and 106 sailors. The anti-submarine warfare
capability is largely achieved due to the low signature of radiated
underwater noise. The ship having indigenous weapon and sensor suites
is equipped with super-rapid gun mounting, anti-aircraft guns, torpedo
launcher, rocket and chaff launchers. The ship fittings include early
warning, navigation, fire control radars and under-water sensors with
integrated communication and electronic warfare systems.

The Minister, in his address, expressed delight that
50 percent of the total work on the frontline warship Kadmatt was completed
prior to the launch as against 40 percent for the first ASW ship Kamorta
launched in April, last year. "This is a record of sorts in the
warship-building scenario," he said. The on-schedule build programme
would ensure timely contractual deliveries adding to the might of the
country in its projection as a blue water navy of our region, he also
said.

Stating that the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have huge
requirement of ships to be met without any time and cost overruns, Dr.
Raju emphasized that timely delivery of 'quality ships' was the need
of the hour. "Modern shipbuilding technology and tools must be
adopted to achieve this objective," he stated.

Urging GRSE to put into practice effective mechanisms
to meet challenges posed by the Indian private sector, Dr. Raju said
shipyards (defence) have to concentrate on implementation of time-tested
quality practices, effective corporate strategy, establishment of reliable
and stabilized vendors and most importantly, training and up-gradation
of its human resources to the lowest level.